Game apparatus.



L. H. SMITH & G. P. LOVEGROVE.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1915.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

A TTOR/VE Y 3 r'r STA S rare FEW.

LOUIS H. SMITH AND GEORGE 1P. LOVEG-ROVE, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA:

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 8, 1915. Serial No. 32,871. I

Game Apparatus,'of which the following a specification.

At present there are a number of games wherein there is employed an object, and a.

ball for rolling on a smooth surface to strike and unseat the object, they being'commonly known under the name of bowling, box-ball,

ten-pinnett, etc., but in each of these games there is required a smooth level surface or alley entending from the delivering station reference is directed to the accompanying games of the above type is considerable-as the runways or alleys must be protected from the weather to maintain a smooth rolling surface thereon, and the runways or alleys are constructed in such a manner, and of such -material, as to make-the cost thereof very high.

The present invention relates to a game of the above type wherein'the runway or alley is dispensedwith, and wherein the objects are arranged 'on a platform providing, a playing surface a distance from'the'de livering station, and 'to be upset or unseated by a ball or other device thrown from the delivering station. In the present game it is not necessary toremove the upset or Yunseated' objects from the platform, as the same will not interfere with the upsetting of the objects remaining standing, as the balls" or other devices are not rolled but are thrown or lofted at the objects.

The present invention includes an n improved form of object setting mechanism which enables the objects after being un -V seated to beset in their normal position to be again 'unseated, andwh'ich enables the objects to have a universal movement when unseated, thereby, permitting one object when unseated to contact with other objects and unseat or assist in unseating themf The improved game apparatus may be installed at little cost as the expensive alley or runway is dispensed with, may be maintained at little cost as the same is not requlred to beprotected from the weather, and

.may be operated at little cost as the pin or object setter is not required.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel construction and combination of parts herelnafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion,

size and minordetails of construction within .the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificlng any of the advantages of the invention. To more fully comprehend the invention,

drawings, whereini Flgure 1 is a view-in perspective of our Patented se t. 5, 1916.

new game apparatus. 'Fig. 2 is a View in section of the pin setting device. Fig. 3 is a plan view'of the "floor of the platform partly broken away, disclosing the pin setting frame. Fig. 4-is a'transverse sectional view of the base ofone of the pins'or objects,

disclosingthe fastening for attachment to the flexible connection; Fig. 5 is a view'in detail of the equalizing spring associated with each cable. Fig. :6 isa view in detail of the adjustable means associated with the V setting frame for receiving the'flexible connections from the respective pins or objects.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,1 indicates a suitable raised platform, providing a playing surfaceadapted to be positioned at any'suitable I place where therupper surface thereof will be approximately level. The platform is provided on its sides with suitablemembers 2, and is divided by theparallel spaced walls .or members 3 into'a plurality of playing surfaces 4:.which are open at the front and rear ends to provide a free passage therethrough. A suitable inclinedhwall of canvas or other yieldable material 5 extends upwardly from v the rear edge of the uppersurface of the plat form and the lower edge thereof is'adapted to be inclinedto .a'common point, and communicates with an inclined trough 6 which 1 .extends to av suitable delivery station A, a Y distance in front of the runways or alleys,

and which connects with a suitable recep taole 7. A trough 8, inclined in the direction of the trough 6, extends across the front of the platform and connects with said trough 6, as in Fig. 1.

The surface of the runways or alleys 4 is provided with a plurality of apertures 9 arranged in the form of a triangle, and ten in number, as are the spots or setting places for the pins of a bowling alley. Over each of the apertures 9 is preferably positioned in a hereinafter described manner an object 10, preferably in the form of a tapered pin having a rounded base 11, and each of said objects or pins are formed centrally of their base with an opening in which is adapted to be received a tubular threaded plug 12 having a flanged end 13. Mounted in the tubular portion of said plug is a suitable connecting member 14, formed at one end with a head 15 and at its opposite end with an eye 16 which receives an eyelet 17 and to which is attached a suitable flexible connection 18, one end of which extends through each aperture 9.

A setting frame 19, preferably triangular in configuration to conform to the arrangement of the pins or objects, is suspended by the springs 20 at a point beneath the surface of the alleys 4, where the pins are adapted to be seated which springs are secured to the undersurface of the alleys, and preferably connect one with each corner of the frame through the eyelets 21.

Extending through the frame 19, beneath each aperture 9, is an externally threaded tube 22, on the opposite ends of which are threaded the nuts 23, the adjustment of which varies the projection of the tube on either side of the frame 19. The flexible connection 18 extends through the tubular member 22, is knotted on its end, and carries a washer 24 which prevents the knot from pulling through the same. 7

Suitable coiled equalizing springs 25 are positioned one in each connection 18, and are fastened thereto at their opposite ends, as at 26 and 27, forming a slack portion 28 in the connection. A buffer 29 is slipped over the flexible connection 18 and limits the upward movement of the connection through the opening 9 associated therewith. The equalizing springs 25 provide a means whereby a tension is applied to all of the pins 10 when the setting frame 19 is drawn downwardly, and provides a means for compensating for any stretch or shrinkage which might take place in the flexible coupling. The setting frame is connected to one end of a flexible member 30 which extends around a guide roller 31 and connects at its opposite end to a lip 32 on a guide 33 which is slidably mounted on a track 34, and said guide carries a plunger 35 which operates in a barrel 36. plunger and barrel 35 and 36 check the upward movement of the setting frame after. the same has been drawn downwardly,

The

in a hereinafter described manner, to set the pins. Connected at one end to the lip 32 and extended to the delivering station A, is a member 37 which connects with a lever 38 pivotally carried by a support 39 mounted on a suitable counter or other support 39"at the delivering station, and said lever is pivotally connected through a link 40 with a pivotally mounted operating lever 41 which extends above the top of the counter or support 39 and operates in a slot 39 therein, and said lever is pivotally connected to a supporting arm 42. The setting lever being pulled rearwardly to the dotted line position-Fig. -2, will draw the setting frame 19 downwardly against the tension of the springs 20, and said frame through the equalizing springs 25 and flexible connections 18 will draw the upset pins to an upright position on the playing surface over their respective apertures or seats 9.

A locking lever 43 is pivotally mounted on a support 44 and the upper end thereof terminates in a handle extending through the slot 39 in the top of the counter or support 39 and the lower end of said lever rides on a pin 45 carried by the operating lever 41, and is provided with a notch or recess 45 for engaging said pin 45, when the operating lever is in its set position, as in dotted'lines Fig. 2. The locking lever prevents the pins from being accidentally upset until such time as the lower end thereof is released from the pin to permit the operating lever to assume the normal full line position, as in Fig. 2.

In playing the game, the player stands at the delivering station and releases the looking lever 43 which permits the springs 20 to slowly draw the setting frame 19 upwardly, which releases the tensionon the base of the pins. Any given number of balls or other objects 45 are now thrown by the player, one at a time, to unseat the pins on the striking of the same, and the flexible connection of each pin is of suflicient length to permit one pin when upset to strike adjacent pins in the direction of its movement. After the required num ber of objects has been thrown, or the pins have all been upset, it is only necessary to pull the lever 41 rearwardly, which operation again sets each pin on its respective spot. As in bowling or other games enumerated above, any number of players may participate, and a score of the pins upset may be maintained. The balls or other objects thrown at the pins are caught either in the canvas 5 or trough 8 and are returned to the delivering station by the trough 6.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A game apparatus wherein balls or the like are thrown to unseat pins or other play ing pieces positioned a distance from the player, the same comprising a delivery station, an elevated platform independent of and positioned a distance therefrom and its upper surface providing a playing surface for receiving said playing pieces, the ends of said playing surface paralleling said delivery station being unobstructed and said playing surface provided on opposite sides with upwardly projecting directing walls, and means 'at the front and rear of said playing surface for receiving said balls to convey the same to the delivery station.

2. A game apparatus wherein balls or the like are thrown to unseat pins or other playing pieces positioned a distance from the player, the same comprising a delivery station, an elevated platform positioned a distance therefrom and independent thereof and its upper surface providing a playing surface for receiving the playing pieces, said playing surface being unobstructed at its front and rear ends to provide an unobstructed path thereover for the balls or the like and provided on opposite sides with upwardly projecting directing walls, an inclined trough at the front and rear of said playing surface, and an inclined trough connecting with said first mentioned troughs and extending to said delivery station, to return the balls after leaving said playing surface to said station.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS H. SMITH. GEORGE P. LOVEGROVE. Witnesses:

HARRY H. TOTIEN, D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

